Gas manufacture apparatus



Aug. l, 1933. J, BECKER 1,920,622

GAs MANUFACTURE APPARATUS Filed Nov. 5, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug. 1, 1933. 1 BECKER 1,920,622

GAS MANUFACTURE APPARATUS Filed Nov. 5, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 1N VEN TOR. Jose/Ob gee/{fer} Aug. l, 1933. J. BECKER GAS MANUFACTURE APPARATUS .Filed NOV. 5, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR k/asgO/ ecef BY y TONEY.

Aug. 1, 1933. J, BECKER GAS MANUFACTURE APPARATUS Filed Nov. 5, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 iWEE....Eiii; .l Il li Il ll ll ll Il ll IVI la. ll Il ll 7 A TO I-IY.

Aug. 1, 1933. J. BECKER 1,920,622

GAS MANUFACTURE APPARATUS Filed Nov. 5, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Aug. l, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT oFrIcEf-g N Y D 1,920,622 y i K GAS APPARATUS Joseph Becker, GHara Township, Allegheny County, Pa., assignor to The Koppers Com-` pany of Delaware, a Corporation of Delaware ApplicationvNovember 5, 1930. serial No. 493,589.

My invention relates to the manufacture of gas, such as coke-oven gas, and particularly to the disposal and utilization oi foul air resulting from the liquid purication of such gas.

An Vobject of my invention 'is to provide a simple and improved system for the disposal and utilization of foul airresulting fromlthe actiiircation of gas puriicationliquid. Y A further object of my invention is vto provide a system of foul .air disposal of `such character that the release of hydrogen sulphide into the atmosphere is avoided. i Y

A iurthercbject of my invention is to provide a simple and eiiicient arrangement whereby actifier air from liquid Vpuriication apparatus mayA be supplied to coke-'oven apparatus; and util-l ized in the combustion of fuel gas therein.`

A still further object of my invention is to provide an adequate arrangement Ji/herebyl actiiier air from liquid purification apparatus may be employed in coke ovens for purposes of combustion without corrosion of the structure in Contact therewith andwithout condensation of moisture from the actier air.

In the manufacture of gas, ,suchas coke-oven gas, water gas and thelike, from coal or other bituminous materials, the `gas contains certain impurities comprising prineipallyhydrogen sulphide. In view of the highly corrosive nature of hydrogen sulphide, it is necessary to remove this impurity before he gas is conveyed through pipe lines or passes through pumps `or other machines.

In the` usual method of` removing hydrogen sulphide from gas, it is absorbed byk bringing the gas into contact with a 'salt solutionsuch as sodium carbonate. It is customary toactify the contaminated salt solution by aeration and to recirculate the salt solution through the absorption tower` for further removal` of hydrogen sulphide.

In certain localities the actier air containing relatively large quantities ot hydrogen sulphide may be discharged directly into the atmosphere without danger.

this manner and. it is necessary to so change ,its character that the resulting products are not harmful to health or vegetation.

In accordance with the presentinvention, gas that is manufactured incckeovens bythe distillation of bituminous `coal is treated inY the usual manner by by-product apparatus `for the removal of certainY materiais such as tar, ammonia and light oils, and is then purified by Vof a portion of a coke-oven battery;

However, inconge'sted districts it isimpossible todispcse oilthe actiiier air in means of liquid purication apparatus. The acf thier air produced by this apparatus is then treatedvfor the removal of any entrained salt; solution. The actiiier air isthen heated to such Atemperature that no moisture will be'condensed 60 therefrom when it enters the mains or the passageways of the coke-ovenV battery to which itis supplied.` 4 The actier air is supplied'to the colre-oven battery through mains connected to the usual reversing boxes for controlling the flow, of-'air and producer gas, when the latter `is used as a fuel, into the regenerators 'ofthe coke-'oven battery and which reversing boxes also control the iiow of Waste gases from the outflow regenerators. A Inasmuch as combination of the fuel gas in ythe coke-oven battery is dependent upon the'y actiflerain means are providedior ,automatii cally preventing the supply of fuel gasto the battery in case of failure of the actifying apparatus to supply air thereto. v In the apparatus of the present invention, coke-'oven gasis used as a fuel and the safety means described above comprises anl electricall circuit controled bythe speed of the actiiier fan and which ,causes the reversing mechanism to assume` its neutral-posi,- tion upon failure of the air supply. 7

The-details of my invention will be described in connection with-the accompany drawings, in which l Y l I Figure 1` is a View partially in elevation, and partially in perspective of apparatus embodying my invention, parts being brokenaway;V l

"Fig 2 is a View partiallyr in elevation and par-V 9o tially in section ofv a modied form of apparatus for removing entrained salt solution from the .Fig. 3 is a view-in transverse vertical section Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view 'of the connections between an air main `and a sole flue of the coke-oven battery and vassociated mechanisms; l

Fig. 5 is a plan view'ofa coke-oven battery 100 and an airv supply system-therefor; Fig. 6 is an elevational View of the apparatus of Fig. 5, a portion of the coke-oven battery being broken away; and f f Figi? is a Vertical sectional elevational view .,105 of a part of the coke oven battery taken longi-v tudinally thereof.

Referring particularly toFig. 1, va coke-oven battery 1, which may Vconsist of any desired number of ovens, yproduces coke-oven gas that flows through ascension pipes 2, only a portion of which are shown, into 'two collecting mains 3 that are locate-d on opposite sides of the battery.

The collecting mains 3 are connected by a crossover pipe 4 and a suction main 5 withdraws the gas therefrom through a pressure regulator to the .usual by-product apparatus indicated by an appropriate legend.

The by-product apparatus is not shown as it constitutes no part of the present invention as it comprises the usual and'well-known primary and secondary coolers, tarextractorand ammonia recovery apparatus. The gas then passes into and upwardly through an absorption tower 7 for the removal of hydrogen sulphide by means of a salt solution. An outlet pipe 8 conveys the gas to a gas holder or distribution system.

The gas purification liquid flows from the bottom of the absorption tower 7 through a pipe 9 into the top of an actier 10. Air is forced into the actifier by means of a pump or fan l1 and removes hydrogen sulphide from the liquid and Athe latter passes in countercurrent therewith.

`The liquid thus actined passes through an outlet pipe 12 by meansof which it may be returned to the sprays 13 at the top of the ab sorption tower 7. The actifier air, which now contains a considerable proportion of hydrogen sulphide, passes out at the top of the actifier and through a pipe 14 into a scrubber 15, in which it passes upwardlyl in countercurrent to water supplied to sprays l'by means of which any entrained salt solution is removed therefrom.

From the scrubber 15, the actifier air passes through pipesl 17 and 18 to a heater 19, in which the actiiier air passes through pipes 2e surrounded by steam for the purpose of raising the temperature of the air whereby no moisture will be deposited alongthe mains or in the sole flues of the coke-oven batteries. From the heater 19, the air'passes through a pressure regulator 21 and into two mains 22 and 23 fordistribution along both sides of a coke-oven battery.

Relative pressures in theinains'22 anc. 23 may be controlled by valves 24 and 25. The mains 22 and 23 are connected to each of the reversing boxes 26 for controlling the iiow of air into the sole nues of the regenerators andthe low of waste gases therefrom, as the case may be.

A reversing mechanism 27, which may be of the usual motor-operated type that is .controlled by clockmechanisrn, operates by means of cables 28 and 29, respectively, to control the guns for admitting coke-oven gas and to control `the reversing boxes-26. p

Reference may now` be had to Figs. 3 and 7, in which certain details of the coke-oven battery are shown. One side only of the battery is illustrated but it vwill be understood that the opposite side oi the battery is substantially a duplicate Yof that shown in the drawings. The battery 1 is supported by a foundation 32 and comprises a series of valternately-disposed oven chambers 33 and heating walls 34.

- Beneath ltheoven chambers and heating walls and separated therefrom by horizontal. brickwork 35 are a series of crosswise regenerators 36 which preferably extend half the width of the battery. Each regenerator is `provided with a sole nue 37 that is connected through a reversing box 26 and an elbow 38 to the air main 22. The air main 22 corresponds in size and location to theusual producer gas main but differs from the latter in that itis connected to all of the reversing boxes instead of half of them, as

is the case with the producer gas main. The reversing box 26 is also connectedthrough a duct 39 to a waste gas flue 40, which may be connected to the usual stack.

A coke-oven gas'main 42 supplies fuel gas combustion in the various heating walls of the battery by means of gas guns 43, the latter being controlled by the cable 28 and feeding the fuel gas to coke oven channels 43 leading to the combustion ilues 34 in the heating walls 34; The battery is provided with the usual roof or top44 having any desired number of charging openings 45 and an oitake opening 46 connected to each oven chamber 33 and to an ascension pipe 2 whereby the gas may be conveyed 'to the collecting main 3. Coke-oven gas is supplied from the suction main to the mains 42 whereby the battery supplies its own fuel for underring. Y

The details of thev connection of the foul air main 22 to a sole flue 37 are clearly shown in Fig. 4. The ilange elbow 38 connects the main 22 to the lower side of the reversing box 26 which is connected directly to the outer end of the sole flue through the side wall A43 of the battery. Adjacent the upper flange of the elbow 38 is an orice disc 49 for the purpose of properly regulating the amount of air passing therethrough.

The reversing box 26, which is operated by the cable 29 and a chain 50, is provided withl a link-and-lever mechanism 51 for controlling valves 52 andY 53. The valve 52 controls the connection of the sole flue 37 and the vertical duct 39 for waste gases. The valve 521s shown in its' open position. v

The valve53, which is closed when the valve 52 is open, controls the connection of the sole flue 37 and the air main 22. The usual air lid 53 with which the'reversing vboxes-26 are' provided is clamped in its closed position.

In the operation of the reversing box Y26,7the` movement of the cable y29 to release the chain 50`permits the valve 52 to close by gravity and at the' same time to open the valve 53 to which it is mechanically connected through the linkand-lever mechanism 51. When the cable 29 is operatedinthe opposite direction to draw the chain 50 upward, the valves are restored to their illustrated position in whichV the air supply is cut off and the sole flue 37 is connected for the discharge ofwaste gases to the stack.V

lThe general .arrangement of the air mains 22 and 23Y is shown in Figs. 5 and 6. It4 will be noted that the mains extend throughout the lengthY of the battery A1 *and* are connected through the elbows 38 to all of the reversing boxes 26 on eachside of the battery. valves 24 and 25'make it possible toadjust the relative pressures in the ,mains 22 and '23 tov compensate for the difference in the amount of fuel required because of .the varying width of Athe charge'due to the taper of theY oven chamchambers 56 and 57 constitute, also, s i'umpsY for the collection of any liquid that may flow there- The' I so' in and which is disposed of bymeans of suit able drains 58 and 59, respectively. Q

The chamber 57 is connected to the pipe 18, which is preferably in the form of Va concrete conduit that is underground and is -connected at its other end to an underground concrete chamber 60, upon which the heater 19 is supported. The latter is also provided With a suitable drain pipe 61.

The concretechambers and conduits referred to above afford a Ysimple and convenient means for conveying the actifier air underground across a comparatively great distance in the yard of a coke plant without its obstructing the surface of the yard or forming unsightly construction in What is ordinarily a clear space.

In the operation of the coke-oven battery 1, coke-oven gas is supplied to half the number ofheating Walls through the corresponding gas guns 43. The reversing boxes 26 are so adjusted that half the`number supply air to the same heating Walls that are supplied with coke-oven gas` The remaining reversing boxes are arranged for the flow of Waste gases to the stack. 25

, mains. Y

The reversing mechanism has a neutral or intermediate position in which all of the gas guns are colsed. The actier fan 11 is provided at one end of its shaft with a suitable device,

. such as a centrifugal switchv 63, for controlling an electrical circuit 64 that is connected to an electric motor 65. A The motor 65, When energized, is arranged to actuate the reversing mechanism 27 to its neutral position. Accordingly,

v in case of failure of the actier fan 11 to operoil is introduced to W downwardly in countercurrent to the actier air. The oil, together Y With any liquid mixed therewith, flows fromV the bottom of the tower 66 through a pipe 68 into a sump 69, which serves as a settling tank. The oil is recirculated from the tank 69 by means of a pump 70. Any salt solution that may be decanted therefrom nov/s through a drain pipe 71 to any suitable place for disposal.

The system provided by my invention operates to efficiently dispose of `hydrogen sulphide contained in the gas produced by coke-oven apparatus by removing it from the gas and then properly preparing the resulting actier airwith respect to its content and its temperature for introduction into the coke-oven apparatus for combustion purposes.

Thus the actifier air. not only serves `a useful purpose by reason of its being introduced. into the oven under carefully regulated pressures, but the hydrogen sulphide therein is reduced to sulphur dioxide by its oxidation during combustion.

Thelatter gas may safely be released intothe atmosphere Vthrough the usual coke-ovenstation in cases Where it wouldbe unsafe or `not permissible to release hydrogenv sulphide.

The foregoing and other advantages Will be apparent to those, skilled `in the operation of coke-oven batteries yand thev manufacture Vand treatment of fuel gas. Y

I I claim as my invention: n '1'. Incombination, a coke oven battery having a series of alternate coking chambers and heating Walls therefor comprising combustionffiues arranged side-by-side vin a "row 4and having means adapted for supplying fuel gas to said combustion flues and regenerators for air adapted for supplying preheated air to said combustion flues-for combustion of said fuel gas; a gas purification absorption chamber and an actification chamber; means for recirculating a liquid through said absorption Achamber and thence through said actification chamber; means for conveying gas Vfrom vcoking chambers through` said absorption chamber for contact with `liquid recirculated therethrough; air inlet means adapted for supplying air into said actication chamber for contact with liquid recirculated therethrough; a scrubbing chamber communieating With said actification chamber for conveying the air therefrom and adapted for scrubbing of entrained salt with liquid from ,the air conveyed thereby; a heating chamber communieating with said scrubbing chamber for conveying the air therefrom and adapted for heating the air conveyedthereby to such a temperature as to prevent condensation of moisture from said Y air when supplied to said regenerators for air; and means yfor conveying air While hot from the heating chamber `into said air regenerators for conveyance thereby tothe combusiton flues of the heating Walls. v

2. In combination, a coke oven battery having a series of alternate coking chamber andfheating Walls therefor comprisingcombustion flues arranged side-b v-side in arow andhaving means adapted for supplying fuel gas-to said combustion of said fuel gas; a gas purification absorption chamber and an actication chamber;

means for recirculating la `liquid through said.

absorption chamber and thence through said actification chamber; means for conveying gas from coking chambers through Said absorption chamber for vcontact `:vith liquid recirculated therethrough;v air inlet means adapted for supplying air into said actiflcation chamber for contact with liquid recirculated therethrough; a scrubbing chamber communicating `with said actification chamber for conveying the air therefrom and adapted for scrubbing of entrained salt with liquid from the air conveyed thereby, a heating f chamber communicating with said scrubbing chamber for conveying the air therefrom and adapted for heating the air conveyed thereby to such a temperature as to prevent condensation' of moisture from l said air when iso supplied to said preheating means for air; and

means for conveying air While hot from the heatfor conveyancevthereby to the combustion ues of the heating Walls.

3. In combination, a coke oven battery having a series of alternate coking chambers and heating Walls therefor comprising combustion nues Yarranged side-byfside in a row and having means adapted for supplying fuel gas to said combustion flues and regeneratorsV for air adapted for supplying preheated air to said combustion lflues for combustion of Said fuel gas; a gas purification absorption chamber and an act'ication chamber; means for recirculating a liquid through said absorption chamber and thence through said actification chamber; 'means for conveying gas from @cking chambers through said absorption chamberV for contact with liquid While hot from the heating chamber into said air regenerators for conveyance thereby to the combustion flues of the heating Walls.

JOSEPH BECKER. 

